Lord Loomba said, “I saw my own mother suffer after my father died of tuberculosis. As soon as my father stopped breathing my mother also stopped being an individual. She could only wear white clothes, she was belittled and ostracized. She lived in this shadow for 37 years until her death.  I started this charity and began this journey in honor of my mother, and with the passage of International Widows’ Day we can help widows worldwide so that they do not suffer the injustices my mother had inflicted upon her.” He added, “With the recognition of International Widows’ Day by the UN and the leadership of such individuals as Dr. Bachelet, we can move this issue to the forefront of people’s minds so that they can take meaningful action.”

The Loomba Foundation

The Loomba Foundation was established by Raj Loomba CBE and his wife Veena in the UK in 1997. It promotes fundamental freedoms and human rights of widows and their children around the world, raising awareness of the gross injustices widows face and seeking to remove stigmas associated with widowhood.

The Loomba Foundation declared 23^rd June as International Widows Day at the House of Lords in May, 2005. The Foundation also published a comprehensive Research Study on widows worldwide and the first edition of was presented to the UN Secretary General, HE Ban Ki Moon on 22^nd June, 2010 followed by presentations to the President of India and the US Secretary of State.

The Foundation collaborates with UN bodies, other NGOs, government officials, human rights advocates and prominent leaders to fight for the over 245 million widows worldwide who suffer prejudice and discrimination.

The Loomba Foundation seeks to bring about gender sensitive reform of national laws and policies, eradicating anti-widow superstitions, traditions, and social practices.  It fosters gender equality and women’s empowerment by implementing poverty-reduction strategies and educational opportunities for widow’s and their children.